Dentistry (Hypnodontics)

The use of hypnosis in surgery can produce many benefits, for example, reduced post-operative nausea and discomfort and a reduction of infections. Many studies have also reported that using hypnosis in surgical operations can lead to an improvement in healing, quicker recovery and marked improvement in overall experience leading to greater patient satisfaction.

The problems caused to dentists by the fears of patients include

1. Patients avoiding treatment, thus needing far more radical treatment when they do eventually attend than would otherwise be the case.

2. Patients reacting in fear during treatment, requiring sedation which would otherwise not be necessary and causing additional stress to the dentist and assisting staff.

3. Patients with needle phobias, who have problems accepting injections.

4. Patients on whom the usual doses of anaesthetic appear to have little effect.

5. Post-procedural pain, leading to avoidance of future treatment.

6. Lack of compliance with dental care measures such as cleaning and regular check-ups.

Direct benefits to dentists include:

1. Reduce/eliminate anxiety/phobia of attending the dentist for treatment.